What is the difference between a CD, a CD/R, and a CD/RW?
Differences between CD-R/CD-RW discs and standard CD The main physical difference between these two disc types and the standard prerecorded CD (audio or CD-ROM) is that the latter has no recording layer; the information is permanently stamped in the aluminium reflecting layer. There is also a difference in terms of the data areas on the disc. Compared with standard CDs, the CD-R and CD-RW discs have an additional Cd-R/CD-RW area located in front of the lead-in area. This additional area is used to store data specific to the recording process, and is divided into two parts: 1.Program Memory Area (PMA), which contains the track numbers of the recorded titles and their respective start and stop points. 2.Program Calibration Area (PCA), which is used by the CDR 870 to calibrate the required laser energy by means of a brief trial recording (Optimum Power Calibration) each time a disc is loaded. This calibration is necessary to allow for production tolerances between individual discs, temper
